Brake beam support



Oct. 21, 1947. nfs. BARRows 2,429,576

` BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT Filed Aug. 29, 1944' 2 sheets-sheet 1 l Il . 1. 2 F. lm 4 F l Oct. 2i, 1947. p vs, BARRQWS 2,429,576

BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT.

Filed Aug. 29, 1944 2 sheets-sheet III/IIIA' DoNAm': S. BARRows Patented Oct. 21, 1947 BRAKE BEAM SUPPORT Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington- Gould, Corporation,` Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application August 29, 1944, Serial No. 551,668

(Cl. 18S- 190) 20 Claims.

This invention pertains toa railway truck and more particularly to a means for supporting a brake beam therefor.

An object of the invention, broadly considered, is the provision, in a railway truck, of a movable brake beam support so arranged. and constructed that a brake shoe will, during all service movements of the. truck, be maintained in constant relation with respect to an associated wheel,

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a railway truck, a 'brake hanger jaw pivotal'ly or movahly mounted on a side frame, the latter of which is resiliently supported by a journal box and supports. a resiliently mounted bolster.

A further object of lthe invention is the provision, in a railway truck, of a brake hanger jaw having a movement reflected by a vertical movement of a bolster in such a manner that a constant relationship is maintained between a brake shoe and an associated wheel.

The above as well as numerous other objects will become apparent from the succeeding description considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a railway truck embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the railway truck shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken along the lines 3-3 `of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the lines A'li--ll of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawings that disclose` an exemplary form of the invention and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral I is employed to designate in a somewhat general manner, a railway truck of a four-wheel type. Only a quarter portion of the railway truck is disclosed in the drawings and hereinafter described and it will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the remaining undisclosed portions oi the truck are counterparts of the disclosed portion.

The railway truck comprises a longitudinally extending side frame '2 and the usual transversely directed connecting bolster 3. One end 4 of the side frame is provided with downwardly opening jaws 5 within which is a journal box 6 arranged to be carried by a wheel and axle assembly 'I. Because of the bearings (not shown) between the axle and journal box and housed by the latter to afford a free rotative action of the wheel and axle assembly, the horizontal axis of the assembly does not vary vertically with respect to the journal box, that is to say, the relationship between the horizontal axisof the assembly and theY journal box remains constant vertically throughout the entire range of service movements of the truck. Since the wheel of the assembly travels along a rail 8 the vertical relationship between the rail, wheel and axle assembly and journal -box also remains at all times constant.

In order to present an easy riding truck capable of service in high speeds, the side frame is resiliently supported by the journal box so that any external impulses imparted to the wheel andfaxle assembly will be cushioned and the complete forces will not be imparted to the side fram-e, bolster and car body. As exemplary Vot a means for affording a resilient support for the side frame there is provided a deformable resilient element 9 'positioned' on a roof i0 oi' the journal box with an inverted U-shaped yoke I l straddling the journal box with an upper web portion |'2 bearing upon the resilient element. Depending from each end .of the yoke web is an armor hangerelement t3 closely associated with a side of the journal Abox and terminating adjacent its lower limits in ahorizontal shelf or seat :I4 directed away from the journalv box. Mounted upon each shelf or seat is a coil vor helical spring I5 arranged to act verticaily and having its upper end vengaging ka downwardly facing ledge I6 formed on the side frame in vertical alignment with the relatedshelf and its lower end bearing upon the shelf. Accordingly, any vload transmitted to the side frame through the bolster end and related springs will pass through the side frame and the helical springs I5 to the Ahanger element and thus through the resilient element 9 to the journal box and wheel and axle assembly. Thus the side frame extremity is arranged to move vertically relative to the supporting journal box. This oittimes desirable resilient support for the side frame causes an undesirable feature in a railway truck, particularly when a brake hanger bracket is formed integral-ly with the side frame. As will be observed, and as previously stated, the axis of the wheel and axle assembly remains at all times constant with respect to a supporting rail while the side frame is arranged to move vertically with respect thereto. If in the latter considered truck the brake hanger bracket is formed integral with and therefore remains constant with respect to the `side frame, a brake hanger `suspended from the bracket. will also move vertically with respectto. the wheel and axle 'assembly, resulting in a constant vertical shifting of the brake beam. In a preferred position, the brake beam. inclusive of a brake head and wheel contacting shoe, is arranged so that the latter will move, during brake release and application, approximately in a path which, when extended, will bisect the axis of the wheel and axle assembly. 'I'his path may be or approximate an inclination of 12 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the wheel and axle assembly, and, as previously stated, radiating from said axis. The brake beam, therefore, should remain constant or substantially so with respect to the wheel and axle assembly so that among numerous other reasons, if the truck is in transit and the brakes are applied, particularly when the side frame supporting springs have been compressed, the brake rigging, upon recoil of the side frame supporting springs, will not be stresses.

As exemplary of a means to maintain a brake beam in a substantially constant relation with respect to the axis of the wheel and axle assembly, there is provided an adjustable brake beam support designated generally by the reference numeral I1. The adjustable brake beam support desirably comprises a bracket, extension or beam I8 formed integrally with a column I9 of a side frame which defines one side of an opening 20 accommodating the bolster 3. A bracket extending preferably inwardly of the truck from each column generally is formed by an inner apertured boss 2| outstanding from the side frame and which at its free end merges into upper and lower vertically crowned, arcuate or cylindrically formed webs 22 to define a space 23 therebetween. The upper and lower webs which extend horizontally merge at their free ends in an outer boss 24 apertured centrally as at 25 so as to be in axial alignment with a central aperture 25a of the inner boss. Overlying and underlying the bosses and Webs are a plurality of spaced, vertically directed ribs 26 extending transversely of the truck to reinforce the bracket against stresses to which it will be subjected in service. It will be noted that the structure surrounding the opening 23 forms a band type housing having a clear opening longitudinally of the truck. Mounted within the apertures 25 and 25a so as to span or bridge or extend through the housing is a. pivot means, pin or shaft 21 which is prevented from shifting outwardly of the truck from illustrated position by reason of the side frame closing one end of the aperture 25a. The outer boss has, adjacent its free extremity, a slot or keyway 28 bisecting the aperture 25 and a clip, key or bar 29 normally accommodated by the slot prevents an accidental displacement of the shaft inwardly of the truck. By reason of this construction, therefore, the pivot means is removably secured within the bracket,

Sleeved over the pin is a normally horizontal lever or actuating means 30 comprising a cylindrical bushing, bearing, tubular shank or hub 3| disposed intermediate the ends of the lever and within the housing. The shank is apertured to accommodate the pivot means to permit the lever to rotate freely within certain predetermined limlts about the axis of the shaft and is of such length so as to substantially occupy the distance between the bracket bosses. Outstanding horizontally from the wheel and axle assembly adjacent side of the hub is an open or U- shaped lever jaw 32 operated as at 33 to receive a removable pin or any means barring 1.21.39 @9' subjected to abnormalH 4 trance into the jaw. Removably secured to the jaw and supported thereby is a brake hanger 34 depending from the jaw to have its lower extremity suitably interlocked with a brake beam assembly 35 which includes a brake shoe arranged to contact the wheel of the wheel and axle assembly.

The bolster inwardly of the side frame has a top wall 36 preferably normally below the extended horizontal axis of the pivot means.

. Formed on the top wall is an inverted U-shaped casing 31 having transversely spaced, longitudinally extending side walls 38 upstanding from and formed integrally with the top wall to be joined at their upper limits by a, bridge member or roof 39. The roof has, in subjacent relation thereto, a bearing plate 40 disposed within the casing so as to relieve the roof of wear during service of the truck. Extending in an opposite direction from the lever jaw is an arm 4l having one end thereof formed integrally with the tubular shank. The arm is directed longitudinally of the truck so as to be disposed within the transversely extended plane of the window opening 20 in the vertical path of the bolster. The arm extends into the casing to have its free end formed cylindrically as at 42 and normally bear against the roof bearing plate. Disposed within the casing is a resilient means, spring element or leaf spring 43 crowned along its length to bear against the cylindrical extremity of the lever. The leaf spring, having its ends downturned to interlock with the bolster and so prevent accidental displacement thereof, functions primarily as an anti-rattling device in that the leaf spring at all times affords a bearing contact between the roof bearing plate and related arm end. The roof is of lesser extent than the top wall and the latter is notched as at 44 to facilitate a service or pivotal movement of the arm.

As previously indicated, the bolster is resiliently mounted on the side frame as illustrated diagrammatically at 45 so that any relative vertical movement between the bolster and side frame through the flexing of the spring mounting 45 will cause a pivotal movement of the arm about the pivot means during which, of course, the cylindrical end of the arm will be in sliding contact with both the leaf spring 43 and the roofbearing plate. By way of illustration it is deemed well to state that any load applied to the bolster will be transmitted through the spring mounting 45 to the side frame down through the spring mounting at the journal box to the journal box and wheel and axle assembly. The spring mountings at the bolster and journal box act in series and because there exists two journal box mountings at each side frame the spring mounting at each journal box is required to carry only onehalf of the load of the spring mounting 45 carrying the bolster. For this reason, therefore, the

deflection of the respective spring mountings may differ, depending entirely of course, upon the characteristics of the respective spring mountings. To carry this'illustration still further the relation between the vertical travel of the spring mountings at the journal box and bolster may be as one unit is to two units respectively. Any load imposed upon the bolster will, in this illustration, move the bolster downwardly from its normal position a total of three units with respect to the rail but only two units relative to the side frame. During this bolster movement the side frame has moved downwardly one unit with respect to the rail corresponding to the compressive travel of the spring mounting at the journal box. Accordingly, in the above illustration, if the eiective lengths of the arm and jaw from the axis of thepivot means are proportioned as one is to two then the cylindrical end 42 of the arm is moved downwardly three units relative to the rail while the pivot `means has moved down one unit and the brake hanger jaw maintained in a fixed position relative to the rail because during a downward movement of the bolster and side frame the jaw has been moved upwardly relative to the pivot means or side frame.

The hereinabove description, as well as the accompanying drawings, treat the movable brake beam support as being disposed inwardly of the truck from the side frame. However, it will be clearly understood that in the case of an inboard truck where the side frame is positionedl inwardly of the truck from the wheels the movable brake beam support will, in the latter case, logically be located outboard of the side frame.

These as well as other obvious and numerous alterations may be made to the illustrated and described construction without departing from within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, a bracket removed from said journal box and carried by said frame, lever means pivotally connected to said bracket, said lever means comprising a brake hanger jaw on one side of said pivotal connection and an arm actuated by said bolster on another side of said pivotal connection.

2. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, a horizontally disposed bracket carried by said side frame, pivot means associated with said bracket, and lever means carried by said pivot means; said lever means comprising a brake hanger jaw on one side of said pivot means and an arm associated with said bolster on another side of said pivot means.

3, In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, a horizontally disposed bracket carried by said side frame, pivot means associated with said bracket, and lever means carried by said pivot means; said lever means being actuated in response to a movement by said bolster and having a brake hanger jaw.

4. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, means carried by said side frame, and lever means pivotally associated with said means; said lever means being actuated in response to a movement by said bolster and having a brake beam supporting means.

5. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted b-olster, the combination of, means carried by said side frame, and lever means pivotally associated with said means; said lever means being slidably associated with said bolster and having a brake beam supporting means.

6. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, means carried by said side frame, lever means pivotally associated with said means, and brake beam supporting means associated with said lever means; said lever means being slidably associated with said bolster so that vertical movement of said bolster in one direction will be reflected in a movement of said brake beam supporting means in an opposite direction.

7. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination oi, means carried by said side frame, lever means pivotally carried by said means, and brake beam supporting means formed in said lever means; said lever means being slidably connected to said bolster.

8. In a railway truck having a side frame movable vertically relative to a supporting journal box and having a vertically movable bolster -associated therewith, the combination of, pivot means carried by said side frame, means associated with said pivot means, a brake beamsupporting means associated with said means, a guideway in said bolster and means formed in said second named means and extending into said guideway.

9. In a railway truck having a side frame movable vertically relative to a supporting journal box and having a vertically movable bolster associated therewith, the combination of, pivot means carried by said side frame, means associated with said pivot means, a brake beam supporting means associated with said means, a guideway in said bolster, and means formed in said second named means and extending into said guideway.

l0. In a railway truck having a side frame movable vertically relative to a supporting journal box and having a vertically movable bolster associated therewith, the combination of, pivot means carried by said side frame, means associated with said pivot means, a brake beam supporting means associated with said means, a horizontal guideway in said bolster adjacent said side frame, and horizontal means formed in said second named means and extending into said guideway.

11. In a railway truck having a side frame movable vertically relative to a supporting journal box and having a vertically movable bolster associated therewith, the combination of, pivot means carried by said side frame, means associated with said pivot means, a brake beam supporting means associated with said means, a guideway in said bolster, means formed in said second named means and extending into said guideway, and resilient means in said guideway reacting against said bolster and last named means.

12. In a railway truck having a side frame movable vertically relative to a supporting journal box and having a vertically movable bolster associated therewith, the combination of, a bracket cast integral with a column of said side frame, pivot means carried by said bracket, a brake hanger jaw carried by said pivot means, and means connected to said bolster and jaw for moving the latter in response to movement of said bolster.

13. In a railway truck having a side frame movable vertically relative to a supporting journal box and having a vertically movable bolster associated therewith, the combination of, a bracket extending inwardly of said truck from a co1- umn of said side frame, a brake hanger jaw pivotally carried by said bracket, and means connecting said bolster and jaw for moving the latter in response to movement of said bolster. Y

14. In a railway truck having a side frame movable vertically relative to a supporting journal box and having a vertically movable bolster associated therewith, the combination of, a bracket integral with and extending inwardly from said side frame, a brake hanger jaw movable on said bracket, and means connecting said bolster and jaw; said brake hanger jaw and means being so arranged and constructed that a vertical movement of the bolster in one direction will be reilected in a movement of said jaw in an opposite direction.

15. In a railway truck having a side frame movable vertically relative to a supporting journal box and having a' vertically movable bolster associated therewith, the combination of, a bracket integral with and extending inwardly of said side frame, pivot means journaled in said bracket, jaw means carried by said pivot means and movable relative to said bracket, and an arm joined to said jaw means and movably associated with said bolster so that any vertical movement of said bolster will be reflected in said jaw.

16. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a, resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, a pivotal means connected to said side frame and arranged to move therewith relative to said journal box and bolster; and brake beam supporting means carried by said pivotal means; said pivotal means being so arranged that said brake beam supporting means will be moved in one direction by an amount equal to the side frame resilient supports at the journal box in an opposite direction.

17. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, pivotal means connected to said side frame and arranged to move therewith relative to said journal box and bolster, brake beam supporting means carried by'said pivotal means; said pivotal means being actuated by said bolster, the effective length of said pivotal means on each side of a pivotal connection thereof to said side frame having substantially the same ratio as the compressive movement of the resilient supports at said box and bolster.

`andere K 18. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a, journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, a pivot means carried by said side frame, means carried by said pivot means and extending beyond two sides thereof, one end of said means carrying a brake beam and another end of said means connected to said bolster, the effective lengths of said means away from said pivot means having substantially the same ratio as the compressive movement of the resilient supports at said journal box and bolster.

19. In a railway truck having a, side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting Va resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, pivot means carried by said side frame, means carried by said pivot means having portions extending from said pivot means toward said journal box and bolster, a brake beam carried by said means portion extending toward said journal box, and said means portion extending toward said bolster being connected to said bolster, said means portions having substantially the same ratio as the compressive movements of the resilient supports at said journal box and bolster.

20. In a railway truck having a side frame resiliently supported by a journal box and in turn supporting a resiliently mounted bolster, the combination of, a pivoted brake beam support connected to said side frame intermediate its ends, one portion of said brake beam support extending toward said journal box and another portion of said brake beam support extending toward and connected to said bolster, said portions having substantially the same ratio as the compressive movements of the resilient supports at said journal box and bolster.

DONALD S. BARROWS.

REFERENCES CITED 4The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,211,916 Farmer Aug. 20, 1940 2,267,560 Farmer Dec. 23, 1941 758,177 Graham Apr. 26, 1904 735,754 Graham Aug. 1l, 1903 2,339,440 Tramblie Jan. 18, 1944 

